Portable house.



No. 760,135. PAILNTLD MAY I?, 1904. A. MILLER.

PORTABLE HOUSE.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 1s, 190s. No MODEL. s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 760,135. 'PATENTED MAY 17, 1904.

' A. MILLER.

PORTABLE HOUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1903. X0 MODEL.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@Mmmm l 2y L www Mnz-(4449 No. 760,135. f PATENTED MAY 1v, 1904.

` A. MILLER.

PURTABLE HOUSE.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1903. N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

110. 760,135. PATENTLL MAY 17,1904.

` A.. MILLER.

PORTABLE HOUSE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 190s.

N0 MODEL.

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IATENTBD` MAY 17,'1904.

A. MILLER. PORTABLE HOUSE. Arrmouxon FILED JUL: 1s, 190s.

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PATENTED MAY 17, 1904. A. MILLER. PORTABLE HOUSE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 1a, 190s.

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. No MODEL` No. 760,135. PATENTED VMAY '17, 1904.

A. MILLER.

PORTABLE HOUSE.

APPLIUATION IILED JULY 16, 1903. N0 MODEL.

A y u No. 760,135. PATENTED MAY 17, 1904. I A. MILLER.

PORTABLE HOUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Patented May 17, 1904.

UNITED STATESY PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST MlLL'ER, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

PORTABLE HOUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,135, dated May 1'7, 1904.

Application filed Iuly 16, 1903. Serial No. 165,800. (No model.)

To @ZZ` whom. it may concern.:

Be it known that I, AUGUST M ILLER, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Buffalo,

in the county of Erie and State of New York,

have invented new and useiul Improvements 1n Portable Houses, of winch the following 1s a specification.

Thisinvention relates to a portable or knockdown house designed more especially as a IO cheap dwelling for the labor-ing classes, but

also suitable for other purposes, such as m111- tary hospitals and officers quarters.

The object of my invention is the provision of a strong and tight building of this class in I5 'which the various frame members and other parts can be constructed at the factory, co1npactly transported, and readily assembled lwithout the use oi' nails or similar' fastcnings and without requiring any'iitting or cutting` of parts or similar hand labor building.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting` of eight sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation oil` a portable house embodying my -invention, a. portion of the roof-sheathing being broken away. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation of the` metallic frame of the house. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the house, taken immediately above the lower Hoor, the `Hoor-boards being `partly broken away. Fig'. l is a fragmen-I tary horizontal section, on an enlarged scale,

taken through one of the corners of the house. Flg. 5 1s a similar section through one of the stud-posts. Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryperspective view of one of the connections between the sills and a corner-post, the diagonal brace being omitted. Flg. 7 1s an enlarged hor1- zontal section in line 7 7, Fig. 2, the upper Hange of `one of the sills being broken away.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal section in line 8 8, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is afragmentary longitudinal section of one of the floor-boards and its fastening-bar.

Figs. 11v and 12 are fragin erecting the Fig. 10 is a sectional top` plan View of a portion of the lower `Hoor on an enlarged scale.

zontal section in line 14 111, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of the roof on an enlarged scale. Fig. 16 is a `i'ragmentary transverse vertical sectiono'f one of the side walls and the lower portion of the roof on an enlarged scale. Fig. 17 is a fragmentaryT front View of the house. Fig.18 is Va `fragmentary longitudi nal section in line 18 18, Fig.` 17. Fig. 19 is an inverted perspective view of one of the roof-panels. Fig. 20 is a transverse section of adjacent roof-panels in line 20 20, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 21 is an enlarged horizontal section of one of the corner-posts in line 21 21, Fig. 1. Fig.` 22 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the corner-posts and its pier. Fig; -23 is an elevation of one of the tie-boltswhich connects the upper and lower ridge-bars of the roof. Fig. 24 is an enlarged vertical section in line 24. 24, Fig. 1. Fig. 25 is a perspective view of one of the tieplate brackets. Fig. 26 is an enlarged horizontal section of the sillsin line 26 26, Fig. 2. Fig. 27 is a longitudinal section of the roof', on an enlarged scale, taken through the sheathing and one of thelongitudinal fastening-bolts.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The metallic main frame of the house consists of corner-postsA, intermediate vstudposts B, located-at opposite sides of the frame, end sills O, side sills D, stringers E, corre-l sponding to the end sills, and longitudinal stringere E', corresponding .to the side sills.

Each corner-post A is constructed of angleiron, having its apex arranged to face outwardly. It rests upon a pier A of cast-iron or' other suitable material, the post preferably 4extending about three feet into the ground and being embedded in concrete A2, as shown.` hEach stud-post 4B is constructed off TeironA having its head or transverse flanges arranged:'parallel with the side of the house and restingupon piers B similar to those of the corner-posts- The `side sills D are made of sections of channel-iron of the proper lengths to extend from the corner-posts A to the stud-posts B and from one stud-post to the next, the flanges ner-posts by the same means.

of the channels preferably facing outwardly. The endsills are alsov constructed of channeliron, but with thefla'nges 'facingv inwardly, and they are of the proper length to span the space between the corner-posts. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7. the front section ot' each side sill abuts against the front liange of the adjacent corner-post, while the adjoining end of the end sill abuts againstthe web of said section. The meeting portions of the side sill and the end sill are firmly tied together by an angle-iron c and are supported by a suitable bracket c', secured to the adjacent corner-post by bolts c2.

The rear sill and the rear sections of the side sills are connected with the adjacent cor- Each of the four corner connections between the end and `side sills is stilfened by a diagonal brace c3.

.B and are preferably secured thereto by angle-pieces I), as shown in Fig. 26.

The stringers E E/ are constructed of channel-iron like the end and side sills and are connected with the stud-posts B by angle-irons e, Fig. 13. A

Inclined braces F preferably connect the sills with the portions of the corner and stud posts which extend below the sills.

g indicates the water-table, and gornamental caps which cover thejoints of the same at the corner-posts. g2 indicates similar caps covering the joints of the water-table at the stud-posts.

H indicates base-boards which close the A.space below the sills and between adjacent corner-posts and stud-posts, as shown in Fig. l. The outer ends of these base-boards are seated in upright pockets arranged in the base portions of the corner -posts Figs. 2l and 22, each of these pockets is formed by the outer side of the corner-post and the opposing inner side of an upright angle-iron H', arranged on the outer side of the post and parallel therewith. This outer angle-iron is arranged at the proper distance from the post to receive the ends ofthe baseboards between these parts. and the same preferably extends from the sill to the lower end of the post, as shown. The base-boards are bolted or otherwise secured to the anges of the post and the ang'le-iron H. The angleirons H also serve to protect the base portions ot' the posts from the weather.

The opposite ends ot' the front and rear baseboards and the ends of the intermediate baseboards are clamped by bolts L between the outer sides of the T-iron stud-posts B and upright metallic bars or strips H2, arranged on the outer side of said posts and extending from the piers B to the side sills, as shown in Figs. 2, 8, and 24. Y

l indicates clapboards applied to lthe front As shown in and rear walls of the house and extending continuously from lfone corner-post to ,the'othen Tl'ie'ends of these clapboards areicontined in vertical pockets formed by the front iianges otl the corner-posts A and the opposing front anges of upright angle-irons I', arranged on the inner sides of the corner-posts and parallel therewith, as shown in Fig. 4. These inner angle-irons extend from the sills to the lower edges of thevstringers E E', and said angle-irons are arranged a sufficient distance apart to snugly receive the ends of the clapboards between the'same. The clapboards are clamped in place` by bolts t' passing at intervals through the opposing flanges of the post and the upright angle-iron.

The clapboards I2 on the side walls of the house are made in sections or lengths corresponding to the distances between the cornerposts and stud-posts and between these posts and the doors and windows. rlhe outer ends of their end sections are seated inthe pockets or spaces formed between the opposing anges of the corner-posts and the upright angleirons I and are clamped therein by transverse bolts 2 like the front and rear clapboards. The clapboards rest upon one another, and each of the same is preferably provided vat its lower edge with avrabbet 3, which receives the beveled or reduced upper edge of the clapboard next below it, as shown in Fig. 16. As shown in Fig. 4t,v the corner-posts are provided on their inner sides at or nearthe outer edges of their lianges with vertical weather-strips or tongues @74,1 which enter corresponding grooves 5 in the outer sides of the clapboards and serve to exclude the weather from between the post-lianges and the clapboards. As the coves ot the clapboards extend to the ends of the same, the .weather in the absence ofV such strips would be liable to enter Vbetween the clapboards and the angle-iron posts. These interlocking strips and grooves also serve to stit'fen and strengthen the frame of the house.

As shown in Fig. 5, the ends of the intermediate sections of the side clapboards and the opposing ends of' the end sections are seated in vertical pockets similar to the pockets ot' the corner-posts. These pockets are formed by the'longitudinal outer iianges'of each T- iron stud post and the opposing parallel flanges of 'a pair of upright angle-irons y', secured to opposite sides of the web or' the studpost. Glarnping-bolts j' pass through these opposing flanges at suitable intervals for securing the clapboards between the same.V The outer flanges of the stud-posts are provided on their inner sides with vertical weatherstrips or tongues f2, which enter corresponding grooves in the faces of the clapboards, as shown in Fig. 5.

The corner-posts A and stud-posts B extend a short distance above the stringers E E', and their upper ends are connected together by horizontal tie-bars K, preferably of angle- IOO IIO

iron, as shownin Figs. 2 and 16. The clapboards on the sides of the house extend from these tie-bars to thesills.

Rough boards L are preferably screwed to,

rlhese beams are arranged at suitable inter;

vals, and their upper fianges are flush with the corresponding iianges of the side sills, m indicates diagonal wooden joists which bridge the spaces between `adjacent I-beams M and between the end I-beams and the end sills, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, and to which joists the floor-boards are secured by any suitable means. The preferred means consist of horizontal bars m', pivoted between their ends to the under sides of the Hoor-boards similar to turn-buttons and adapted to have their front ends embedded in the side of the adjacent joist by being driven laterally into the same, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The pivots m2 of the fastening-bars are so arrangedrelatively to the side of the adjacent joist that when the bars are turned about at 'right angles to the latter their front arms penetrate the joist and secure the boards in place, while upon turning the bars Vbeyond that position in either direction their front arms clear the joist and release the boards. The penetrating ends of the bars are preferably rounded and sharpened to more easily enter the joist. The bars are readily engaged with the joists by striking the edges of their rear arms with a hammer.

The floor-boards may be interlocked at their meeting edges by any suitable means; but I prefer to employ separate metallic keys ortenons m3, fitted in opposinglongitudinal grooves in the edges of the boards and extending across the joints between thejsame, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. i

Below the main floor M is preferably arranged a false floor M2, composed of rough boards extending lengthwise of the building from one I-beam M to the next and resting upon the lower iianges thereof, as shown in Figs. 3, 10, 11, and 12. The outer ends of the front and rear panels of rough boards rest upon the lower fianges of the end sills.

The `diagonal joists m are fitted at their ends between the false iioor M2 and the upper fianges vof the I-beams M and the end sills, as shown in Fig. 12, and are held at the proper distance apart by space bars or blocks a, fitted tightly between the ends of adjacent joists and bearing against the webs of said I- beams and end sills. As shown in Fig. 3, the

two end joists `of each series are shorter than the distance between adjacent I-beams, and

their outer ends are held in position by longitudinal space-blocks n', abutting at their ends against the joists and the webs of the VI- beams. The upper edges of the joists are fiush with the upper sides of the I-bcams, the joists being recessed or rabbeted for receiving the upper fianges of the I-beams and the end sills. as shown at m* in Figs. 10 and 11.

The upper'fioor of the house is carried by the stringers E E and is preferably of the `same construction as the lower floor just described, the false floor of the same forming the ceiling' of the lower story of the house and for this reason being made ofa higher grade of lumber than the false lower fioor.

0 indicates the inclined rafters, preferably constructed of angle-iron and each having' one of its flanges arranged parallel with the surface of the roof. The lower portions of the rafters, except the endmost ones, rest edgewise upon the corners of the longitudinal tie-bars K and are firmly connected therewith by angle-irons 0', Fig. 16. The ,upper ends of opposite rafters overlap each otherand are secured together by horizontal bolts 02 passing through the overlapping fianges thereof, as shown in Fig. 15. The apexes or meeting upper ends of the series of rafters are firmly tied together by a ridge-'bar P, of angle-iron,wl1ich has its flanges secured to the contiguous flanges of the rafters by bolts p or other suitable fastenings. The lower ends of the series of rafters on the same side of the roof, including the endmost or overhanging rafters, are connected together by a longitudinal tie-plate P, bolted or otherwise secured to the rafters. Each of these tie-plates is supported and firmly held in position by brackets P3, which are secured to the faces of the corner-posts A and stud-posts B and to which the tie-plate is fastened by bolts p', as shown in Fig. 16.

Q indicates boards or panels which cover the rafters and the spaces between them and which are secured to the upper flanges of the rafters by transverse bolts q, as shown in Figs. 1, 15, and 20. The panels on opposite sides of the roof meet at the ridge of the latter and extend downwardly to the tie-plates P. The panels are recessed or rabbeted at their longitudinal edges, so as to overlap each other and form tight iiush joints, as shown. They are also preferably recessed or rabbeted at their upper ends to form upper shoulders g, which abut against the lower edges of the ridge-bar P, as shown in Figs. 15 and 19. The panels are provided in their lower ends with rabbets or recesses q2, which receive the upper edges of the tie -plates P, forming weather-tght joints at these points, as shown in Fig. 16.

A sheathing R, preferably of corrugated sheet metal, covers the panels Q and extends from end to end of the roof. The sections of sheathing on opposite sides of the roof terminate at or near the apex of the meeting' IOO IIO

ISO

panels and are securely held in place by an upper ridge-bar S, preferably of angle-irons, the fianges of which bar overlap the upper edges of the sheathing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 15. This upper ridge-bar is firmly clamped down upon the sheathing by vertical tie rods or bolts S', which pass through the upper and lower ridge-barsP S and through perforated caps s, surmounting the upper ridge-bar, and perforated triangular blocks s', bearing against the. under side of the lower ridge-bar. The under sides of these caps are shaped to conform to the upper ridge-bar. The sheathing is firmly secured in place by bolts s2 passing through the same, the panels Q, and the lower flanges of the rafters, as shown in Fig. 27. Thesev bolts alternate with theshort panel-bolts q and are preferably provided with rubber washers s3.

The ends of the sheathing-sections on opposite sides of the roof are flanged or turned inwardly and secured to the faces of the end rafters, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

T indicates cornices which close the spaces between the side walls of the house and the adjacent overhanging portions of the roof.

' These cornices extend from end to end of the building, and each of the same rests at its outer edge upon the lower ange of a longitudinal angle-iron t, secured to the under side of the tie-plate P', while its inner edge is secured by screws or otherfastenings .to the outer flange of a similar angle-iron t', the inner flange of which rests upon inclined shoulders or ledges t2, arranged on the faces of the adjacent clapboards, as shown. in Fig. 16. The ends of the cornice-sections are supported upon shoulders or ledges p2, arranged on the sides of the brackets P2 andv conforming to the contour of the molded cornice, as shown in Fig. 25. The angle-irons t t also serve to close the joints at the inner and outer edges of the cornice. Y

The cornice or molding 'T' in the gables of rthe house may be secured in place by any suitable means. In the construction shown in the drawings, Figs. 17 and 18, the same is fastened by an angle-iron t3, secured to the under side of the overhanging end panels Q and overlapping the upper edge of the cornice.

. The clapboards in the gables ofthe house are preferably clamped between wooden rafters u and metal strips u', connected with said rafters by transverse bolts u2, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

V indicates the gutters or eaves-troughs',

each of which consists of an angle-iron secured to the outer side of the adjacent tie-plate P at or near its lower edge. Each gutter preferably slopes toward the center of the building, where it joins the box or receiver V of a conductor-pipe c. Y

In my improved .building the construction of all the metallic parts or members is such that ordinary commercial or stock iron: may.

be employed, which can be cutltozthe proper lengths at the mill or factory by suitable machines, avoiding the employment'offislilled or hand labor for this purpose at the place where .the buildingis erected and correspondingly reducing its cost. No nails or similarffastenings are employed for securingtogether such parts as are intended to separate, and they can therefore be readily transported, quickly assembled, and d ismembered at a minimum cost for labor.

An important feature of my improved construction consists in extending the cornerposts and stud-posts continuously from their piers or foundations to the horizontal tie-barsv or longitudinal members upon which the rafters rest. This produces a very stiff and strong construction.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a portable house, the combinationof a frame having posts provided in their opposing sides with vertical pockets, the outer walls of said pockets being provided with vertical weather strips or ribs, and clapboards seated at their ends in said pockets and pro-A vided in their faces with vertical grooves which receive said weather-strips, substantially as set forth.

2. In a portable house, the combination of side and end sills, transverse I-beams supported at their ends by the side sills, joists spanning said I-beams and having their ends arranged between the Lipper and lower flanges thereof, and floor-boards secured to said joists, substantially as set forth.

3. In a portable house, the combination of the side sills, flanged floor-beams secured at their ends to the side sills, joists spanning` said beams, and space-bars arranged between the ends of adjacent joists, substantially as set forth.

4. In a portable house, the combination of side and end sills, floor-beams supported at their ends by the side sills and having upper and lower flanges, false floor-sections supported on the lower flanges of adjacent iioorbeams, and joists resting upon said false floorsections and havingA their ends confined between the latter and the upper flanges of the floor-beams, substantially as set forth.

5. Ina portable house, the combination of side and end sills, transverse I-beams supported at their ends by the side sills, false IOO IOS A IIO pivoted to the under side of the oor-boards and adapted to penetrate the sides of the joists with their free ends, substantially as set forth.

7. A Hoor structure for a portable house, comprising joists, floor-boards resting on the joists, and horizontal fastenings pivoted between their ends to the under side of the boards adjacent to the joist, the front arms of the bars being of such a length that their free ends are caused to penetrate the sides of the joists upon driving the bars into a position about at right angles to the joists, substantially as set forth.

8. In a portable house, the combination with the main or body frame of the house, of

f rafters resting on said frame, a tie-plate connecting the lower portions of the rafters, and brackets secured to the body-frame and supporting said tie-plate, substantially as set forth.

9. In a portable house, the combination with the main or body frame of the house, of rafters resting on said body-frame, an angleiron ridge-bar connecting the meeting' upper ends of the opposing rafters, longitudinal tieplates `connecting the lower ends of the rafters, and roof boards or panels resting upon the rafters and provided on their under sides near their upper ends with shoulders which abut against said ridge-bar and at their lower ends with rabbets or recesses which receive the upper edges of said tieplates, substantially as set forth.

10. In a portable house, the combination with the main or body frame of the house, of rafters resting on said body-frame, a lower ridge-bar connecting the meeting upper ends of opposing rafters, roof-boards resting upon the rafters, an upper ridge-bar arranged at the apex of the meeting roof-boards, and vertical tie-rods connecting said upper and lower ridge-bars, substantially as set forth.

1l. In a portable house, the combination with the main or body frame of the house, of rafters resting on said body-frame, a lower ridge-bar connecting the meeting upper ends of opposing rafters, roof boards or panels resting upon the rafters and meeting at the ridge of the roof, sheathing applied to said panels, an upper ridge-bar overlapping' the upper edges of the sheathing, and tie-rods passing through said upper and lower ridgebars, substantially as set forth.

l2. In a portable house, the combination with the main or body frame of the house, of angle-iron rafters resting on said body-frame, tie-plates connecting the lower ends of the rafters, and eaves-troughs secured to the upper sides of said tie-plates, substantially as set forth.

13. In a portable house, the combination with the side walls and the overhanging roof, of brackets arranged between the side walls and the roof and provided with ledges or shoulders, and a cornice resting at its ends upon the ledges of said brackets, substantially as set forth.

14. In a portable house, the combination with the side walls and the overhanging roof, of opposing angle-irons secured lengthwise to the faces of the walls and the under side of the overhanging roof, and corniccs supported at their longitudinal edges by said opposing angle-irons, substantially as set forth.

15. In a portable house, the combination with a side wall having a ledge, and the overhanging portion of the roof, of a longitudinal angle-iron having' its upper iange secured to the under side of said overlianging portion, an opposing angleiron resting upon said ledge, and a cornice resting at its outer edge upon the lower flange of the first-named angle-iron and having its inner edge secured to the outer ange of the opposing angle-iron, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 11th day of July, 1903.

AUGUST MILLER.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, EMMA M. GRAHAM. 

